Nebraska Tobacco Tax Increase Proposal Harmful
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Kevin Godbee - Mar 31, 2011
- 1 min read
Lincoln, Nebraska – A 225% increase in Nebraska excise taxes on certain tobacco products would be harmful to businesses throughout the state, according to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association.
Legislative Bill 436 calls for higher cigarette and smokeless tobacco tax increases and an increase in the excise tax on other tobacco products including all cigars. The bill would raise taxes from 20 percent to 65 percent of the wholesale price.
"Tax increases of this magnitude backfire in this or any other economy. They never produce what they are expected to produce and they always lead to damaged businesses, lost jobs and lower tax revenues overall," said Christ McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR.
In addition, higher taxes on tobacco products inevitably lead to lost revenues to the state’s cigar stores because customers either purchase less or they migrate to the Internet and purchase their products online where they are not taxed, McCalla pointed out. He also cited that higher prices lead to contraband product, brought in illegally and sold without generating state tax revenues.
"Nobody wins when that happens," he said.
Earlier this year, the results of a poll of 500 Nebraskans were touted by anti-smoking forces as justification for tobacco tax increases statewide. At that time, the IPCPR branded the poll as ‘phony.’ [Related Article Here]
The poll was paid for by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, an $8.4 billion organization that gets its funds from Johnson & Johnson which makes the leading brand of anti-smoking medication.
"The conclusions drawn from the poll results are phony for many reasons," said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR. "First of all, the poll’s funding source has a vested interest in forcing people to give up the pleasure of smoking which will result from higher tobacco taxes," said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR. "Second, they are saying that 365 people should dictate higher taxes on those tobacco products by the citizens of Nebraska. Ridiculous!"
The IPCPR is an association of independent cigar store owners and manufacturers, most of whom are small, mom-and-pop tobacconists who primarily sell premium cigars, pipes and tobacco.
Written by Kevin Godbee
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Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 636. Our featured interview on tonightâs show is with Barry Kane. Barry started smoking a pipe in 1961 when he was 14-years old. Back then it seemed like everybody smoked, and you could buy pipes and tobacco just about anywhere. Barry is a true old-school pipe smoker, sticking to just one blend. See if you can guess which one before listening. At the top of the show Brian will give his take on Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s purchase of Mac Baren and Sutliff Tobacco and their announcement that they will be shut down.
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Hoo boy! The States are falling like dominoes! I thought Illinois had a lock on idiotic politicians, but I guess it’s epidemic. This article just “shows to go ya” that you have to follow the money. Profit will always trump Science.
As for the policy of the entire state being dictated by the opinions of 365 people, just remember this about the accuracy of polls: Dewey Defeats Truman, Nov. 3, 1948 . đ
Cortez is right, the States are falling one by one. The process is speeding up as well đ
It is only a matter of time before tobacco is an illegal substance.
So sad… to see what is taking place across our country…It is a sign of our times..when weak minds trump common sense and good business acumen…
Stand by folks, after tobacco goes away they are going to take our Meat and Beer. I just wish they would leave people well enough alone. Last time I checked the Middle East is doing away with this kind of tyranny, maybe we should be next.